[Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord]

Justus quidem tu es, Domine, si disputem tecum; verumtamen justa loquar ad te: Quare via impiorum presperatur? &c.

Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: let let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doeth the way of the wicked prosper?

Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinner's ways prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavour end?

Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend,
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend,

Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and brakes
Now, leav'ed how thick! lac'ed they are again
With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes

Them; birds build -- but not I build; no, but strain,
Time's eunuch, and not breed one work work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.

1889